John a



(No Model.)

J. ALKIRK.

PUZZLE 0B. GAMB. i l f No. 528,675. Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

xm M/ I l *X Q) g\/l/z o A /zz g) k g e) f 5 d m M WITNESS/ESQ' y' NVENTOH! AUNITED STATES PATENTV OFFICE.

.lol-1N A. KIRK, oFwAsHlNGToN,'DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

PUZZLYE OR GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N0. 528,67 5, dated November 6, 1894.

Application mea raam 20,1894. serial No. 500,869. el@ model.)

To all whom il? may concern:

Be known that I, JOHN A. KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington,`

District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements in Puzzles or Games, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in puzzles, games or toys, in which a person endeavors to move a number of paper figures on half balls of lead or other suitable material, or roll a number of balls or marbles from an inclosed space in a fixedrportion of a box to an inclosure on a movable or pivotal part, and subsequently to another inclosed space, located diametrically opposite, on a fixed part of the box, under particular direction or conditions, and the construction and advantages will be fully hereinafter described, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure lis a plan view of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line -w.

The puzzle, game or toy, for which this is expressly designed is called, The Farmers Ferry, or Fox and Goose. The central space, with the disk or wheel, represents the river, and the boat shaped inclosure located upon the surface of the disk represents the ferry-boat, and the inclosed spaces, located diametrically on each side of the box, represent the shores of the river, and the openings in the inclosing fences of these spaces represent the boat 'landin gs on each bank of the river.

The person engaged with the game or puzzle places the paper figure or balls in one of the inclosures representing the shore of the river, and then holding the apparatus in the hand endeavors by drumming with his fingers on the bottom or vibrating and inclining the box in different directions, to cause the boat and the paper figures or balls to move in the desired direction, the object being to get the paper figure representing the farmer and one other ball or figure, into the boat and land the ball or figure on the opposite shore, re-

turning with the figure of the farmer still inv the boat, repeating the operation until all the gures or balls are placed on the opposite shore, under the following conditions: The fox must not be left with the goose nor the goose with the corn for fear one will devour the other. When this is accomplished without allowing any figure or ball to roll out of the boat or either inclosure into the river, the object of the game or puzzle is attained.

The apparatus is constructed or composed of a base a, of wood, paper or any other suitable material, surrounded by a continuous wall or rim b, of pasteboard or any other thinly constructed Y material, inserted in a groove glued or otherwise fastened to the outer edge of said base, a continuous raised surface c, surroundingand forming the boundary of a circular depressed surface, d, and space e, which is turned or otherwise cut, or constructed in the upper surface of the base a, and having a central bearing block f, and being partially surrounded by the fences or rims g, having the openings h on a level with the licor c, said fenceswith the outer rim forming the inclosed spaces i; the constructing and combining of the several parts forming a shallow box A, the interior of which is divided into three compartments adapted to have pivotally secured within said circular depressed space e, an unbalanced loaded disk or wheel B, composed of wood, paper or any substantial material, and having constructed upon its uppersurface, near its circumference an elliptically formed fence k, with an opening l, forming the boat-shaped inclosure m, a central -bracing block n, with the pivot shaft o, securely fastened therein and extending through and beyond the lower surface, and adapted to neatly flt in the bearing block f, and having located on its under surface near its circumference, a weight, p, which causes the dish to revolve when its center of gravity is disturbed by the manipulation of the apparatus.

The combination and construction of all the parts with the paper figures q, cut in miniature shapes of human and animal forms and glued or otherwise secured to the flat surface of half spheres of lead or any suitable material, or in lieu thereof variously colored balls to represent a farmer, a fox, a goose and a peck of corn, forming the complete apparatus for the purpose substantially as described and specified.

I do not 'wish to conne myself to the exact construction as herein speciled.

It can readily be seen that the box or base and the disk or wheel with all their parts, except the weight and pivot, can each be formed of papier-mach, celluloid or thinbrass, molded or pressed in one piece.

I am aware that prior to my invention a game or puzzle has been constructed in which is a box having a turn-table upon which balls are placed, said balls to be delivered through a pathway leading from the center of said turn-table to narrow raised and unguarded ways, and subsequently into cribs locatedin dierent parts of the box. Such forms no part of my invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a puzzle, game or toy adapted to be manipulated by being held in the hand; of a box A, formed of a base a, having a continuous outer Wall or rim b; a continuous raised surface c, surrounding a circular depressed surface CZ, and forming the circular space c, having the fences or rims g, forming with the outer wall the spaces i, with the openings h, therefrom; a disk or wheel B, pivotally secured withinsaid circular space e, having its upper surface on a level with the continuous raised surface c, and having the elliptically formed fence 7c, with the opening Z, forming the boat shaped inclosure m, and

the Weight p securely fastened to its under surface; and a number of movable objects, substantially as set forth and described.

2. The combination in a puzzle, game or toy, adapted t0 be manipulated by being held in the hand, of a box A, composed of a base having a continuous outer Wall or rim and raised surface c and having its interior divided into three compartments by parallel or curved walls or fences, with openings; the outer compartments having iioors adapted to be on the same level; the inner or central compartment having a circular depressed door, and a disk or Wheel B, pivotally secured Within the circular space formed by the inner edge of said 5o raised surface; and havingits upper surface i on a level with said raised surface; and a weight secured at a point near the periphery of the said disk or Wheel B, substantially as set forth and described.

3. The combination in a puzzle, game or toy, of a boXA, having an outer and inner floor of diiferent levels and divided into c01npartments by Walls or fences with interior openings, With an unbalanced pivotally-secured disk or wheel having upon its upper surface a crib or cribs with openings adapted to correspond with the openings of said compartments, located on the raised floor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 65 presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. KIRK.

lVitnesses:

HEATH SUTHERLAND, L. C. HILLS. 

